Gena Hansen - THE HUMAN BEAN

I met Gena Hansen for the first time when I was trying a new coffee stand. Gena's beautiful and genuine smile caught my attention. Immediately, I knew I had met someone special - someone who was happy!

The staff was warm and friendly... the coffee was amazing! After just moments of pleasantries, Gena asked me, "Are you a hairdresser?" As I later found out, Gena too, had been a hairdresser. The rest is history!

THE HUMAN BEAN is located at:

8050 S. Virginia St. (across from In-N-Out Burger).

To visit The Human Bean on-line, GO TO:

http://thehumanbean.com/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=9

Try it... you'll like it!

As I got to know Gena more-and-more each day due to the convenience of THE HUMAN BEAN drive through, great coffee and first-rate service, I invited her to join me on my Health and Beauty Segment because she had a story, which I felt needed to be shared.

For those of you who may have missed our Thursday morning live interview, the following is an outline of what we discussed:

In Gena's own words:

Finding the “why” for me is more of finding the “what”…..

What is really important in life? Never lose focus on these things. You don’t get to live life over and if you do get a second chance at anything, live it to the fullest.

The “how to”….

1. Your past can motivate and inspire or it can cripple you. Don’t let others actions define how you live. It is your choice if you will grow or shrivel from life’s experiences. Moving forward is a choice. Living inside of mistakes, regret or hurt will stunt you, but choosing to break out of these things will propel you forward if you choose….

2. When you know something is right (after research, advice and planning) jump in. Don’t be foolish, but do be brave.

3. Be the best at whatever it is you do. Have pride (don’t be prideful) and have passion. Don’t waste time on something uninspiring.

4. Surround yourself with positive people. Friends and family are a necessary support because a new adventure will always have its challenging moments.

5. Attitude is everything. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

All of these points helped me to move from one career to the next. Being a hairdresser was motivating, inspiring, creative and fun, but having the chance to be a parent was my definition of success, and when Nevaeh was born, well she is definitely my passion. The chance to be involved in the Human bean is a great thrill, because it is the future for our families and working side by side with my husband makes me appreciate him even more. It is challenging and a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but the relationships being built and the fun make it all worth it.


I believe the most important role of being a parent is to give your child courage, strength, and mostly compassion. We need to take it seriously that as a parent you are helping to sculpt a human being! We need to teach them to look outside of themselves and not live in a small selfish bubble. We need to give them value, worth and treasure them. Respect and be kind to them, even more so than you would a business associate or friend, and never forget that discipline is part of helping them to grow and learn. If you get to be home with your kids full time, know you are valuable and take as much time as you can to simply be with them. Make sure your kids, and everyone else in your life for that matter, know how much you love them.


I would challenge others to answer these questions and frequently think about their response.

1. Imagine living life backwards, how would this help you define success? What can I do today to propel me to that success?

2. What is good in my life?

3. What can I do today to bless someone else?

4. What would I regret not doing today if this was my last day alive?

5. What is my life motto?

Because I believe success is different for everyone, I believe being focused on the good things makes a person more successful and making your life count for something is a true measure of success.

Kindest regards, Gena Hansen

Gena presented me with a writing her father gave her, on ATTITUDE by Charles Swindoll. I can attest, this is the Gena Hansen I know:

ATTITUDE
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more than just facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you, we are al in charge of our attitudes.

~ Charles Swindoll

Thank you Gena and Scott Hansen, (to Gena I've given the title of: The Coffee Princess), The Human Bean Staff, and thank you to (all of the listeners) for making THE ALICE 96.5 "Health and Beauty" Segment into the Top 10 for 2007.


Sincerely,

Dorlon Peckham
Genesis Salon
250 Crummer Lane
Reno, NV 89502
775-828-9797
www.genesisreno.com

A "NEW KIND" OF NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION! Making Your Pearls Count for Something!

I recently saw a bumper sticker that read: "God, please save me from Your followers!"

Since 9/11, Americans have come to realize many things. My personal realization? Americans may not be as loved as I once thought we were. Still, America is were dreams can come true! Regardless of the many problems we face in this great country, people like being here - people from other countries want to move here - chances are you and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

Currently, global warming is just one more of the "what ifs" we get to add to our list of things to worry about.

I believe we all want a better tomorrow for ourselves, as well as, generations to come. Is it possible?

As of Tuesday December 18, 2008 at 6:00 a.m., the world population was: 6,770,377,007.

On January 1, 1970, the world population was: 3,912,231,043

On January 1, 2020, the world population will reach: 8,056,448,722

By 2035, we will reach 10 billion people trying to coexist on planet earth!

We won't hear any of the current presidential WANNABEs discussing population. It is a very unpopular subject - it's tabu! Regardless, by the numbers shown above, it is the number one threat to our future. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but soon.

Have you made your New Year's resolution yet? Lose a few pounds? Start working out? Try to be more patient with your significant other?

While these are noble goals, we are facing much bigger challenges than "SELF." We know this, but as of yet, we have not been given the tools (mind-set) to address our current situation.

Everyday, more laws are being written to try and control a world that appears to be, out-of-control. Our prison system is overcrowded - the warehousing of souls waiting to get out to commit the same or more serious crimes. Prison gives the prisoners time to plan their future. Not a conducive place to plan one's future - do ya think?

Underlying the stresses we are experiencing today, is fear. Many people have given up and have become cynical. They believe the government wants us to be afraid so it can more effectively control us. This may be true. Who cares?

"There is nothing I can do about anything," is a current and common conceptual misnomer. I disagree. There is something we can do about! How? By gaining a higher, and better perspective of our individualize power to LOVE.

Joseph Campbell, in his PBS series with Bill Moyers titled, The Power of Myth, informs us that at the highest concepts of all world religions, is LOVE. The problem is, as a society, our definition of LOVE is limited or distorted. I love a chocolate sundae. I love football. I love the sweater you bought me for Christmas. I love you. I love...

Somehow, the English language has limited our understanding and the ability to conceptualize the kind of LOVE Joseph Campbell was referring to. I will present one of my favorite definitions Mr. Campbell shared. It's also one most Americans have heard at some point in their lives.

One definition of Divine Love:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This definition has nothing to do with religion - it has to do with common sense. If we don't make the connection at some point, there won't be much to discuss.

In an earlier broadcast, I discussed The Pearl Planner®. The concepts contained within THE PEARL PLANNER® provide faith, hope and LOVE. Investing your Pearls everyday, every hour, every moment... such as, mentoring a child, visiting with a lonely person, contributing...

THE PEARL PLANNER® provides the guidelines to define our choices. Overtime, the fear becomes less and less. You are INVESTING your Pearls into something or someone worthwhile. INVESTING in yourself, is INVESTING in the world.

I will reprint a segment of THE PEARL PLANNER® from an earlier blog entry. When making your New Year's resolutions this year, consider the possibilities of your RETURN ON INVESTMENT of your eight daily pearls.

THE PEARL PLANNER®
MAKING YOUR PEARLS COUNT FOR SOMETHING

Let's do some Pearl Planner® math:

Eight hours of your day is taken up by sleep - you now have 16 hours left.

Another eight hours is taken up by eating, personal hygiene, waiting in-line at Starbucks for your Latte, and other similar stuff (aka etc.)

Now you have eight hours left for your Pearl Planner® Priorities™. Here's where your "Pearl Power™" kicks in! (Yes, this could include your time at the office).

Here's how THE PEARL PLANNER® can work for you!










Each morning when you wake up, imagine you are given EIGHT PEARLS. These EIGHT PEARLS are your gift from the COSMOS to use in only one of five ways.

1. You can "invest" your pearls.
2. You can "spend" your pearls.
3. You can "waste" your pearls.
4. You can "lose" your pearls.
5. You can have your pearls "stolen."

NOTE: You cannot "save" your pearls. You are given EIGHT for the day... And, more importantly, you are not guaranteed you will receive EIGHT PEARLS the next day. Nothing in life is guaranteed. These EIGHT PEARLS are your gift for today and for today only. God forbid anything should happen, but the reality is, today is all you've got.

EACH PEARL REPRESENTS ONE HOUR OF YOUR DAY. HOW "YOU CHOOSE" TO USE YOUR PEARLS IS STRICTLY UP TO YOU!

1. Investing a pearl. Remember, your pearl represents "one hour" of your day. Did you "spend" an hour with the kids or did you "invest" an hour with the kids. How was your pearl used?

If you invested an hour (pearl) with the kids, you may have work together on a project. If you spent an hour (pearl) with the kids, you may have simply been in the same proximity, but no exchange of building a meaningful relationship took place. Your pearl was spent, not invested.

What about you? How can you invest a "pearl" in yourself? Working out, eating right, getting enough rest, meditating, simply being? There are endless examples of what we all know we need to be better people.

What about work? Did you invest a pearl in building relationships at work? Or were you simply there?

What about your community? Do you just take and give nothing back?

What about your church? Do you spend an hour at church or do you invest your time in helping?

What about your parents? Do you spend time or invest time?

2. Spending a pearl. When we spend, we get something. But there is not return on our investment. Investing provides dividends. Spending provides stuff.

3. Wasting your pearl. Oftentimes, this has to do with wasting time on things that don't matter. E-mails that consume us. Cell phone messages that don't matter. Gossip and idol chit-chat about things we can do nothing about.

4. Losing a pearl. You may wonder where the time went? "Where did the time go," we will often hear people say. Lost pearls are the saddest of all.

5. Having your pearls stolen by a Pearl Thief™. This has to do with people or things that may seem important at the time. We may be tricked into thinking what we're doing matters. For example, have you ever met someone who continually consumes your time with his or her drama - complain, complain, complain? You've spent hours, days, months or even years trying to inform this person on how to make his or her life better; only to find out later, nothing has changed. Psychic vampires can suck the life out or you with their problems and endless mishaps. Remember, you only have eight pearls for the day and when someone steals your pearls, you don't have them to invest in things that matter most. Work projects and meaningless tasks can do the same. Busy work that means nothing! Doing, doing, doing, only to find out it was all for not!

SUMMARY:

THE PEARL PLANNER®

Making Choices in Using My Pearls

Today, I choose to invest as many of my eight pearls as I can to take me to my dreams so I may fall in love with my future.
As each hour passes, I use one pearl, never to be recaptured again.

Investing a pearl means I gain a return on my investment. Some examples: Working out, stopping an addiction, getting enough rest, eating right, building meaningful relationships, being a leader, mentoring a child, having productive meetings, learning a new skill, quality time with family and friends, visiting a sick or lonely person, planning a vacation, being present, planning for my future, planning for my children's education, developing dreams, taking personal responsibility.

Spending a pearl means you were simply there in the physical sense - the rest of you wasn't present.

Losing a pearl means you don't know where the time went.

Wasting a pearl means you used an hour in a completely meaningless way.

Having a pearl stolen is allowing something of absolutely no importance consume your time.

NOTE: Just because you're busy doesn't necessarily mean you are getting anything done. Solution: Walk away from the Pearl Thieves™ in your life...

TIME AND ENERGY
Traditional time-management systems only take into account, time. THE PEARL PLANNER® takes into account time, but also energy. In other words, how you use your time including energy output and energy return. Plus, there is another dimension to THE PEARL PLANNER® which provides you the opportunity to discern moment-by-moment, whether or not what your doing counts for something. And, whether certain people or projects need to be ejected from your life. Are there people who are renting space in your head that need to be evicted from the premises.

A good place to start investing your pearls are in people, places and things that deserve your pearls. Just 'cause someone needs vs. deserves, is a concept which will require a deep level of understanding on your part.



Once you realize the power of THE PEARL PLANNER®, your life will never be the same!

Happy New Year! You must know, you can make a difference!

Dorlon Peckham
Genesis Salon
250 Crummer Lane
Reno, NV 89502
775-828-9797
www.genesissalon.com

HOLIDAY "HEALTH AND BEAUTY" LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE

This past week I had the pleasure of meeting
Anne Carter-Hargrove
as a client.
Anne is a psychologist, artist, mother, wife and beautiful person with an artistic talent unlike anything I've ever experienced.

My blog entry this week is only to guide and direct you to Anne's web site and blog.

To give the most special gift you could ever imagine, please visit:

The portrait website: www.CahootsPortraits.com.

The blog is attached, or you can access it through www.cahootsportraits.wordpress.com.

All of Anne's contact information is provided on her site.

Take some time to peruse the portraits Anne has created. It's an extraordinary experience!

Happy Holidays,

Dorlon Peckham
Genesis Salon
250 Crummer Lane
Reno, NV 89502
775-828-9797
www.genesissalon.com

Julie Cunningham Color

What is the key to success?

To help others to become successful.

What better way to help others become more successful than to teach them how to look and feel their best in their personal and professional lives.

My guest this week is Julie Cunningham: Entrepreneur, Image Consultant and Educator.

In 1993, Julie Cunningham taught me how to see the world of COLOR in powerful, new ways. The information Julie shared with me changed the direction of my career as a hairdesigner. I would now like to introduce you to one of my dearest and beautiful mentors...

MEET JULIE CUNNINGHAM
Julie Cunningham Color©
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Julie Cunningham Color is dedicated to the total development of each person’s image potential. We believe achieving this goal of personal image attainment brings forth our finest personality characteristics and imparts confidence in every individual, as well as creating personal appearance organization unparalleled by other systems. To achieve our goal we follow this belief system:

COLOR ANALYSIS is a transforming process that imparts a radiance and credibility achieved no other way. It is the heart and soul of our system, it is based on strong color theory, and is grounded in the belief that each person is perfect exactly as they are.

MAKEUP is an essential part of an excellent color analysis program and is prescribed based on the same theories of personal harmony. Makeup chosen and applied properly enhances the person and looks natural. The person, the makeup, and the wardrobe create a synergism resulting in a total image enhancement that is achieved no other way. All women can learn to comfortably and beautifully use makeup.

INDIVIDUAL STYLE is a natural progression after color analysis. Style combines the unique personal coloring, physical characteristics, and personality essence of each person in one effective visual package. Each one of us has a wonderful style that is based on our individuality and can be developed using theories of harmony, color, design & personality. Style evolves and improves with age.

WARDROBE DEVELOPMENT SKILLS are integral to a good image and are based both on color theory and personal lifestyle. Dressing well is an art that can be taught, but accurate wardrobe knowledge is seldom distributed as it runs counter to the prevailing retail sales mentality. We remedy this unfortunate situation by teaching practical, personalized wardrobing guidelines.

ACCESSORY SKILLS are the crucial finishing touch to any personal image and give the polish and personality for which we strive. Correct accessories particularly flatter and strengthen the head and shoulders. Accessory skills are based on artistic principles which anyone can master, but few are taught.

IMAGE PROFESSIONALS charge appropriate fees. We are theory based, not product driven, image professionals. We have a reason for every bit of advice we offer our clients, based on principles of design, line, color, shape, and personality type. We charge appropriate fees for the personalized services that we offer.

Image consulting, done correctly, is a transforming, confidence building gift to others. We do it because we love to strengthen, improve and beautify both our own lives and those of our clients. Using the above philosophy achieves this result and gives purpose to our daily work.

-- Julie Cunningham

COLOR ANALYSISHere I demonstrate for Rachel how the color swatch (in the photo to the left) drains her and how the color swatch (in the photo to the right) harmonizes with her natural skin tones and eye color.











MAKE UPJulie once told me, "If a woman uses the right colors with her make up, she can't put it on wrong. If she uses the wrong colors, she can't put it on right." Have you ever seen a woman follow her lipstick into a room? Unfortunately, this takes place far to often.


INDIVIDUAL STYLEIn the photo below, Genesis Medical Esthetician, Leah Giesy, is my example of how Individualized Style Analysis translates into understanding each woman's uniqueness and femininity of beauty.

Naturally curved Body Type - drape/wrap looks fantastic.
Bold Autumn - looks beautiful in rich, warm colors.
Romantic Style Personality - looks incredibly sexy in long hair.


WARDROBE DEVELOPMENT SKILLSStatistics suggest, most women wear about 10% of what's in their closet. By learning color theory and personal lifestyle, the 44 colors in your seasonal palette can add new dimensions to enhance your image.


ACCESSORY SKILLSIt's all in the details... Shayla's delicate coloration is enhanced even more by the background in this photo.



IMAGE PROFESSIONALSDiscovering YOUR Individualized Style is an amazing experience. Would you like to assist others in finding their IMAGE? Julie Cunningham can teach you how to transform yourself and others.




Visit Julie at: jcc.mysmbresources.com

To gain information on becoming an Image Consultant, you can contact Julie Cunningham Color at: JCColor@Maine.rr.com or 1-207-773-5500.

My sincere thanks to Julie Cunningham for all of the years of transformation she made possible for my clients and me by her wonderful training. She has made the world a much more colorful and beautiful place!

Dorlon Peckham
Genesis Salon
250 Crummer Lane
Reno, NV 89502
775-828-9797
www.genesissalon.com

Interviewing Anne Kreamer - author of "Going Gray" www.annekreamer.com

This week, I had the privilege of interviewing Anne Kreamer, author of Going Gray. Anne's book gives us a unique opportunity to ask the question: "Why do we color our hair?" Going Gray is a "must read" for anyone over 40. Yes, men too. At least Metro Men.

As a hairdresser, I have a unique perspective regarding "coloring hair" based on 27 years of experiential data with clients of all ages. In the early 90's, I became certified in Color Analysis, which opened my eyes and mind to the amazing world of COLOR (and not just haircolor).

COLOR has the power to energize, as well as, drain a person's appearance. What I've witnessed (in some cases) is how dangerous color/image consultants can be if they analyze a person's colors incorrectly. Unfortunately, I see and meet lots of people who look tired, less friendly, older, haggard and pounds heavier solely on the wrong colors he or she is wearing.

Here I demonstrate "The Silver and Gold Test" on my model RACHEL FRANKLIN. Of course Rachel is adorable in both photos but the gold gives her a clearer, creamier complexion. At Rachel's age, haircolor is about having fun! Of course, Rachel still wants to look her best, but I recently colored Rachel's hair in all cool colors and with some make-up adjustments, she looks HOT!










If you see what I see, PAM BEKO MOLINI of DICKSON REALTY in Reno, Nevada radiates elegant beauty in her silver/gray hair. Like Anne Kreamer, Pam Beko Molini is a "Silver Fox!" If any hairdresser were to color Pam's hair, he or she should have his or her cosmetology license revoked.








Meet ANNE KREAMER author of Going Gray


Here's what Anne has to say about Going Gray:


Q: What made you decide to stop coloring your hair?

Anne: A friend sent me photographs from a trip we’d recently taken and in one of them I was standing with my sixteen-year old naturally blond daughter and a good friend with gray hair. I was in the middle with a harsh and dark brown hair dye and when I looked at that photograph I realized that I didn’t like the way I looked. I saw that my face and hair no longer really jibed with each other.

Q: How did you decide to go about letting your hair grow in?

Anne: That was the hardest part of the whole process. I was fond of my shoulder length hair and didn’t want to get a buzz cut and start fresh, so I went to my colorist assuming that we could just start to pull the color out. But unfortunately it isn’t simple like that. You have to add different kinds of highlights to blend in with your roots as they grow out as well as a toner that can help to blend in the various colors. And none of it looks very good.

Q: How long did it take?

Anne: From start to finish it took me about 18 months to get rid of all of my color. And it was tough – about mid-point I felt like I looked like an old crazy kind of bag lady. My hair was brittle and sort of unkempt looking and I finally decided to cut about four inches off. It was wonderfully liberating. It felt as if I’d cut off my old and disingenuous dyed past and was ready to look to the future with a clear eye about my age.

Q: What made you decide to write a book about the experience?

Anne: My usual way of making any kind of big change in life is to tell as many people as I can what I’m intending to do, and then I have to follow through. So I suggested that I write a piece for More magazine about the experience. And More got the most letters from their readers about my piece they’d ever had so I thought I’d touched a nerve that was worth analyzing in greater detail.

Q: What were the issues that you’d uncovered while your hair was growing out?

Anne: I discovered that I was worried about whether I could ever be attractive to men in the same way with gray hair as I thought I had been with my dyed brown hair. And when I began to talk with other women about my experience I uncovered that worry about their loss of attractiveness is perhaps the single greatest fear almost all women feel as they get older – and gray hair is just one very visible signal of age. Women were also terrified that they would lose professional opportunity if they were perceived as old.

Q: How did you go about getting at the underlying truth or issues behind those fears?

Anne: I did several different things.

I talked to as many different kinds of men and women as I could – from well-known people like Emmylou Harris, Anna Quindlen, Frances McDormand, Mireille Guiliano (French Women Don’t Get Fat), Nora Ephron and Governor Ann Richards to regular people I met across the country. I conducted a national survey of 500 people probing all sorts of issues around aging and the things that we do to mask the signs of aging. I used myself as a guinea pig in a variety of situations – I pseudo-dated on-line, went out to bars, interviewed headhunters and met in cognito with image consultants. And I read everything I could get my hands on.

Q: What surprised you the most?

Anne: You mean after I figured out that I had spent $65,000 on hair color alone during the 25 years I dyed my hair? (And $300,000 after adjusting for inflation!)

Wow! But yes, beyond that statistic.

What most surprised me was discovering that when it comes to letting their hair be its natural gray, or not, I think a lot of women tend to be worried about the wrong thing. I certainly was. More women are more worried that men won’t find them attractive with gray hair, and yet believe that gray hair is acceptable professionally. In my research, the truth was pretty much the opposite.

Q: What do you mean?

Anne: Well, for instance, I tried to really get at whether gray hair was unattractive to men on Match.com. I figured if I was honest about my age and interests and posted an image of myself with gray hair that I’d naturally get fewer “dates” (or “winks” as overtures are called on Match.com) than I would when I posted the same information but instead used an image of myself with my hair Photo-shopped brown. And shockingly, after I did the experiment three times in three different cities, three times as many men in New York, Chicago and L.A. were interested in going out with me when my hair was gray. This blew my mind. Maybe men figured that if I were being honest about the color of my hair they figured perhaps the lack of pretence would make me more accessible and easier to date. Or maybe the gray made me stand out from the overwhelming majority of Match-com women my age who color their hair.

Q: Did you test this theory in the real world?

Anne: Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. I went out to a variety of New York bars (from places where Wall Street guys would hang out to the kinds where locals went to watch sports) and once again I was really surprised by how it seemed that my gray hair color did nothing to prevent me from meeting and talking with nice-looking younger guys. Most women I talked with during research for my book were convinced that if a woman had gray hair and then got divorced that it was absolutely essential that she dye her hair if she were ever going to date again. I strongly believe that that is not the case. And moreover, I would suggest to most women that if the guy they’re interested in will only like them if they dye their hair, then maybe he’s not Mr. Right.

Q: Was there anything else that supports your contrarian point of view?

Anne: The results from my survey were compelling. There is a huge double standard. Through a Photo shopped experiment I also tested precisely how much gray hair aged a person and what I discovered is that if a person is in their 40s or 50s, gray hair allows others to accurately guess a person’s age. When I Photo shopped the gray hair out with brown, the person was guessed to be about two or three years younger. Which seems like a modest difference to work so hard to achieve.

Q: So what was the story professionally?

Anne: I interviewed two different media headhunters – one in New York, the other based in Colorado and both said that they had neither a female client nor a prospective job candidate with gray hair. They went into real detail about how gray hair was consistently viewed as a signal that a person would not be “right” for most company cultures. And if a woman were in sales or marketing allowing herself to go gray on the job would be the kiss of death.

Q: You didn’t expect this?

Anne: I met with these women assuming they’d tell me that if I wanted to get back into the corporate arena then I’d have to update my image and dye my hair. But I didn’t expect them to be so emphatic about how damaging gray hair could be to a woman’s career.

Q: What about the image consultants?

Anne: I was completely taken aback by the image consultants. I met with three very different people and firms and in each instance they believed that my gray hair could be an asset. The main thing I learned from them was that if you change any one aspect of your look, then it is important to modify everything else to bring out your best features. I needed to update my style and color palette. And it was some of the best money I’ve spent in a long time.

Q: What about men?

Anne: I interviewed a lot of men for the book and with the exception of a writer living in Hollywood, all of the men claimed to be indifferent to the color of a woman’s hair. If a woman is lively and interested in what they are saying and seems to take care in her personal appearance, then hair color was irrelevant to the men – and they are so worried about going bald that the color of our hair never entered the equation!

But I also discovered that men are the next market segment that the cosmetic companies are targeting for hair color. The female market is practically saturated so men are the only growth area left. It’s a scary thought.

Q: And did you find any differences with people from other countries?

Anne: I interviewed Mireille Guiliano, the author of the French Women Don’t Get Fat books, and also several other European men and women and, not surprisingly, found that Europeans in general have a greater tolerance for a wide range of what women can look like as they age.

Q: Where did you end up? Do you disapprove of people who dye their hair?

Anne: I certainly don’t disapprove of people who dye their hair – after all, I’m a very recent convert to my natural color. And I no longer work in a corporate environment so I have the luxury of feeling safe and comfortable writing at home by myself with my gray hair. And I’ve been married to the same man for 26 years. But I did come through on the other side happier and more at home in my body than when I dyed my hair. It feels liberating to walk down the street and know that as much as possible I’m projecting pretty much who I am to the world. I love not spending the time at the beauty shop and I really love not spending the money.

I feel like I’m a better role model for my daughters and it seems like my husband finds me as sexy with my natural hair.

I also discovered through my research and reading that acknowledgement of your real age is one of the most important tools we have to increase the odds that we’ll age healthfully and happily. Several studies have clearly indicated that people who accept their age actually live longer. So I love that by choosing to give up one little piece of artifice I might actually be helping myself stick around longer for the grandchildren I long to know.

END
Several years ago, I was in a restaurant observing a beautiful woman with silver/gray hair - I had to ask her age - she informed me she was twenty-eight. The men in the room couldn't take their eyes off of her. She was gorgeous! This Silver Angel knew her gray hair worked for her. Did it make her look older? Not in my mind. In fact, if her hair had have been colored, she probably wouldn't have turned as many heads. It wasn't only her gray haircolor, however, that made my dining experience so memorable. Her hairstyle complimented her face shape and body type. Her make-up and clothes style were impeccable. Either this young woman was innately sensitive to what worked (in her favor) or she had a competent image consultant assist her in making all the right decisions. She was living, breathing ART.

Just like anything else, there are good and not so good image consultants. If you decide to visit an image consultant, make sure you do your homework. Find someone who knows her/his stuff. NOTE: Full spectrum lighting is imperative when having your colors analyzed. Color is dramatically affected by different types of lighting. The old days of doing Color Analysis in someone's living room are over.

So do you want to Go Gray? Are you locked into haircolor that is not all it could be?

Anne informed me during a phone conversation she has received e-mails from women (and men) around the world trying to, more gracefully, grow out their haircolor. "Do you have any tips on how to do this?" Anne asked me.

Here is my suggestion:

Each time your stylist touches up the roots, choose one (to one-half shade) lighter than the previous color application. Also, decrease the volume of developer to 10 volume or less. This creates a stain and the gray hair will begin to appear "dimensional." Stop pulling color through the ends. Begin using a cool blonde shampoo and conditioner to minimize the warm tones, which will inevitably begin to appear from not pulling the haircolor through the ends. At some point, highlighting may be an option. In most cases, highlights are less obtrusive than a solid color during the grow-out period.

There will come the time when you will have to take the plunge. How about a short haircut to get rid of all the remaining color? Contrary to what most women think, shorter hair works better during the fall/winter months. During cooler weather, turtle neck sweaters, neck scarves, coats and higher-collar blouses soften the look of shorter hair. During hot weather, more skin is exposed by tank tops, etc. Short hair in fall/winter, longer hair in spring/summer. It makes sense once you consider your wardrobe and accessory options.

I am grateful for Anne Kreamer's book and message. I think Anne has done an incredible job sharing her story of what she learned about "beauty, sex, work, motherhood, authenticity and everything else that really matters" in her book, Going Gray.

My special thanks to Anne Kreamer and Bonnie Hannah (Anne's Publicist) for their kindness and willingness to take time out from their busy schedules to make this segment possible.

To visit Anne on-line, go to: www.annekreamer.com


Dorlon Peckham
Genesis Salon
250 Crummer Lane
Reno, NV 89502
775-828-9797
www.genesissalon.com

HALLOWEEN TRICKS AND TREATS

Oftentimes, the simplest Halloween costume can be the most effective. To assist you in regard to designing your most original Halloween Costume this year, lets first consider our five basic Style Personalities.

Try to identify your Style Personality among the following:

1. The Natural – simple, practical and comfortable
2. The Classic – traditional and/or recognizable
3. The Dramatic – likes to turn heads, unconventional, out-of-the-box
4. The Artistic – a milder combination of Classic and Dramatic
5. The Romantic – loves her long hair, sexy, sometimes revealing

You will most likely have one dominant, as well as, a secondary Style Personality. To help get your creative juices flowing, I've provided some images with comments tying in her/his Style Personality with her/his costume design.

For example, this Romantic loves her long hair but also enjoys a Dramatic flair. Here is a revealing display of a Romantic and Dramatic Devil woman’s Halloween costume. Natasha will definitely turn heads when she walks into a room, however, I would suggest she bring a coat along just in case it gets chilly.


Tiffany has the Natural Style Personality and may wear something as simple as cosmetic contact lenses, which can be obtained from most optometrists. These contact lenses can be quite Dramatic as well.


Here is a Classic, yet thirsty Transylvanian Vampire with his Natural female victim. Great for couples.


The Artistic is a milder combination of the Classic and the Dramatic. Our beautiful model Kathy provides a great example of this possibility. She is wearing naturally colored contact lenses for a subtle, yet Dramatic effect.



Hair Tricks: This trick is achieved by using a vacuum cleaner (hose) to pull the hair in an upward direction followed slowly and closely (spraying the hair) with Bumble and bumble Extra Strength Hairspray. (Going slow allows the hairspray to dry to hold the spike in position - allow hair to dry completely before too much movement - egg whites are then applied to the hair to create a concrete strength concoction). Bumble also provides colored, aerosol Hair Powders to add temporary color to the design. Hair Powders come in five colors - Red, Black, White, Blondish and Brown and can be purchased at Genesis.













Make-Up Treats: This simple Marilyn Manson application can be done with liquid eye liner. Darkening the lip color adds drama. A similar type dog collar can be purchased at most pet stores.



Our next two models take make-up and art to higher levels -- Body Paints add unlimited possibilities.




Another way to approach costume design is to consider your body parts individually. This can help keep things simple and original.

Aimee created her Dramatic hands by attaching artificial claws to thick, rubber gloves.


Lip accessories are oftentimes overlooked. For the Romantic, this might add the finishing touch to a Victorian type costume.



FYI: Please use caution if designing this type of look for Halloween. These days, we can't be sure if it's really a costume or if Shelby escaped from the psyche ward of a local hospital? If she consumes a little too much of the grape, her date may be with the men in white coats.




HERE ARE SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN:

Ancient Origins of Halloween:

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

Modern Traditions of Halloween:

The American tradition of "trick-or-treating" probably dates back to the early All Souls' Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives.

The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.

The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.

Evolution Of A Halloween Holiday:

As European immigrants came to America, they brought their varied Halloween customs with them. Because of the rigid Protestant belief systems that characterized early New England, celebration of Halloween in colonial times was extremely limited there.
It was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups, as well as the American Indians, meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included "play parties," public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other's fortunes, dance, and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the nineteenth century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing Ireland's potato famine of 1846, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally. Taking from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's "trick-or-treat" tradition. Young women believed that, on Halloween, they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings, or mirrors.
In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers, than about ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft.
At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season, and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything "frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of their efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.
By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular, but community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide parties as the featured entertainment. Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism began to plague Halloween celebrations in many communities during this time. By the 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited vandalism and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they could be more easily accommodated. Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. A new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday.


Please make it a fun and safe Halloween.

I now have an Apprentice, Tiffiny McCorkle, who I've personally trained. To make an appointment with Tiffiny, call Genesis today at 828-9797. We are Team Dynamo!

Dorlon Peckham
Genesis Salon
250 Crummer Lane
Reno, NV 89502
775-828-9797
www.genesissalon.com

THE MAKEOVER - MAGIC, MYTH OR POSSIBLITY?

For Christmas one year, a client gave me a little magnet for my styling station which read, "I'm a Beautician, not a Magician." Since the early 1980's, I've been asked to perform countless "MAKEOVER MIRACLES."

As a hairdresser, I bear the responsibility of providing each client with an individualized hairstyle to compliment her natural colorations, hair type, style personality, skin texture, face shape, body type, lifestyle and the current trends to keep her up-to-date. In many cases, it becomes a work in progress. Nevertheless, it's what I do and what I've committed myself to do. I get it!

I've come to realize there are several levels to a makeover. The first, most basic level is the physical aspect of the hairstyle itself. Does it work for her? The second level is, can she maintain her "new do" after she leaves the salon? This requires education in regard to using the correct home haircare products and how to use the tools such as flat irons, curling irons, brushes, rollers, etc. Also, to inform her on the potential, damaging effects of certain brushes and heat implements.

What about getting different styling options from her "one" hairstyle? This too, requires education and encouragement. Helping someone "step out of her comfort zone," is where the slope can get slippery. Change someones perception of who she is and/or who she can become? This subject is always up for debate. Is it a hairstylist's place? Each woman must decide for herself.

My training and exposure to companies like Bumble and bumble has opened my eyes, ears and artistic perceptions to what is possible. Below is a recent Bumble and bumble poster which I have next to my styling station to encourage clients as well as myself to explore the many possibilities.

One Woman - Ten Months - Four Haircuts - Eight Styles



Most women are open for change - this is why the majority of my clientele are women. I once attended the 50-year wedding anniversary of a client's mother and father. At the celebration a table was set up showing the couple's wedding day picture with several dozen photos taken throughout their 50 years. The wife progressed through the five decades sporting every imaginable style representing the decades she was living. The husband? Basically the same as the day they were married. The hair becoming thinner and the waistline becoming thicker but basically his hairstyle was the same as the day he said, "I do."

We love watching makeover shows on television or seeing pictures in magazines and books that show "the before and after" pictures that "wow" us. In many cases, there are subtle shifts in the photo itself where the subject is frowning in "the before" picture and in "the after" picture she's smiling. Bad lighting, then good lighting, is another trick used by clever photographers to enhance the magic of the makeover transformation.

This week I am spotlighting a client who has redefined, in my mind, the "MAKEOVER MIRACLE." All I can say is "WOW!" I feel honored to have played a small part in helping her look and feel her best. The day I cut Janet's hair shorter, she sat white knuckled in my chair, looking into the mirror with disbelief. Janet Pratt, however, made a decision to investigate the possibilities of "THE MAKEOVER MIRACLE."

In Janet's own words:

"I knew I had to do something when I ended up on the bathroom floor and couldn't get up. [She had toppled over from her own weight] I started with a few changes in diet and began some easy exercise. After losing 65 pounds I looked and felt a lot better and plateaued for a year. After a year started working and gained back about 20 pounds. I really wanted to get the rest off. I really wanted to weigh under 200 pounds. I started a regimented diet and lost about 20 pounds. People started to tell me how great I looked and that there was a hot person inside me. Men started paying attention to me. That felt very good after years of being invisible. I began to feel more confident. I cut my hair short and colored it red which was a very big thing for me. I got a lot of encouragement from the people around me which encouraged me to continue toward my goal. When I realized that I had lost a total of about 80 pounds I realized that maybe I could really get all the weight off this time. Going under 200 pounds was a huge milestone. I was able to buy clothes more to my taste instead of whatever was available in my size. The more I was able to express myself by what I chose to wear and style my hair, the more positive feedback I received. The first time someone told me I was sexy I was thrilled to pieces. I had never seen myself that way and to have someone tell me that at the age of 45 was wonderful. All of this keeps me motivated to keep going toward my goal. When I was 275 pounds I felt like people either didn’t see me or didn’t like me. I hated crowds and social situations. My sister said it was because I put off an unapproachable vibe, like I expected them not to like me. Now I’m more outgoing and friendly (OK, I’m flirty!). I’m comfortable meeting new people and people often tell me that I’m fun to be around. At 275 pounds there were a lot of things that I wanted to do. At 175, I’m doing them. I’m somewhat athletic, I bicycle, ice skate, play softball, and weight train. I never thought I could dance, but now I ballroom dance and people often stop me and tell me what a wonderful dancer I am and that they enjoy watching me. I would never have danced publicly before to begin with, and most certainly not on an empty dance floor where people could watch me. My life has changed completely and I’m a different person."

THE MAKEOVERBEFORE



AFTER
























Janet's story brings warmth to my heart. I hope you will find the inspiration in her strength and persistence as much as I do. Knowing the other aspects of Janet's life and what she contributes to the betterment and protection of children, makes her one of the most beautiful people I've ever met.

Congratulations and a "BIG WOW!" from all the lives you've touched and continue to touch in such selfless, positive ways. The world is a better place because of people like you.

Dorlon Peckham
Genesis Salon
250 Crummer Lane
Reno, NV 89502
775-828-9797
www.genesissalon.com